Sunday, May 31, 2015

Hello June, goodbye May! It's that time of the month again where I gather all products I've loved this past month. According to my blog schedule, I was supposed to be posting a Summer look today but considering the weather isn't helping I will move that to next week, praying and hoping the sun will be out for a nice photoshoot. Today let me show you instead some of my monthly favourites.

Miss Dior Eau de Toilette £54.50

Yet another present from my fiancé and it has quickly become my absolute favourite (you can tell by how much I've used up). A very feminine and elegant smell, also fruity and not at all sweet and sickening (I personally hate those). It comes in a gorgeous bottle which I will be keeping once it's finished and it looks very pretty on my dresser. Even though this was a gift and it is kinda pricey, I think it's worth the price tag and I would definitely repurchase...unless I'm given a new one *cough cough*.

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara £7.99

If you are a regular reader, you will know by now that this is my favourite mascara of all time. I've had a look to see what else is on the market and ended up trying a few other mascaras (see here, here and here), but now that I bought another one of these, I have fallen in love all over again. I've never really reviewed this product despite my deep affection for it but if you have tried it for yourself, you will know exactly what I am talking about. Simply put, a gorgeous little mascara with an unusual wand but amazing formula. I find that putting only one coat on already makes a huge difference and the result is beautifully long and tick eyelashes.

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub £5.50

These lip scrubs by Lush have been a big deal for a long time, but only recently did I pick up my first ever. I, being a big lover of candy floss chose Bubblegum and it smells and tastes just so so good. It leaves my always dry lips feeling and looking a lot better, and it works as the perfect base for lipbalm or lipstick. I'm already addicted to it, mostly because it's mainly sugar and I end up licking it all off. The taste and smell are both incredible, and I'm kicking myself for not buying one sooner.

Naked Skin Concealer £17.50

I've already raved enough about this concealer in my previous post (read here), but I'm so glad I have it in my make-up bag that I couldn't not include it in this list. I can finally effectively deal with my eye circles and I see it being a favourite of mine for a long time!

Cat Eyes Vintage Sunglasses £5.20

I don't usually buy cheapy sunglasses online, but these stood out on my recent Amazon search for cat eye sunglasses and I simply couldn't resist. I'm majorly obsessed with sunglasses at the moment so these are the perfect addition to my collection. I'm really impressed by the quality of this product despite the price, and the only minor downside is that they come all the way from China and it takes approx 20 days to be delivered to a UK address. I don't mind the wait too much and I'm already thinking what colour I should buy next.

Brush Egg MakeUp Brush Cleaner £5.99

We all love to put make-up on but you will agree with me that cleaning make-up brushes is a big pain in the derrière. That all changes with this silicone tool. The bumps on this scrubber are designed to effectively get rid of make-up residue on brushes and I find this product to make this super boring and long task a lot easier. It is super cute, comes in different colours and despite being compact, it does a great job with bigger brushes too. You can find it on Amazon and Ebay and I definitely recommend checking it out.

Have you tried any of these? Let me know below what your favourite products for this month are!

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Yesterday my fiancé and I celebrated our 2 Year Anniversary. I can't believe it has been 2 years already! I am extremely blessed to have someone in my life that supports me through everything, including this blog. He wanted to buy me gifts I would enjoy and of course that meant one thing and one thing only: MAKE-UP.

We popped into Urban Decay Covent Garden and he told me to choose whatever I wanted. I, being the sensible person that I am (NOT!), only picked up a few things but ended up leaving the shop with a goody bag full of samples! Here's what's new in my make-up collection:

It's not a secret that in my opinion the Naked 3 palette is the most beautiful palette of them all and the only one of the collection I ever really needed. But I decide to give in and get the original Naked Eyeshadow Palette after being convinced by the sales girl that it was simply perfect for my skin tone. I have never been treated so well in a make-up store; too bad I don't remember the girl's name but whoever you are thank you for making me take home these gorgeous eyeshadows, I am in love! This palette has been reviewed exactly a billion times so I will spare you on the long list of pros I have. We can just look at it instead and appreciate how beautiful it is.

Next up, the Naked Concealer in the shade Light Warm. Simply put, this is the most perfect concealer I have ever tried. Don't get me wrong, I won't be ridding myself of my all-time favourite Collection concealer just yet, but this is just on a whole.other.level. This product conceals my very dark circles and it doesn't set into fine lines all day long. I feel like it highlights my under eye area extremely well, doesn't cake and even though its smell is odd, this is a product I will be buying over and over again. And of course, now I want the Naked foundation too because why not!

And finally this black 24/7 Velvet Glide-On Eye Pencil. I confess I don't wear eyeliner much because I just find them all less than adequate. This changes now with this amazingly pigmented pencil; it is waterproof and just perfect for that smudged sexy evening smokey eye.

All in all, Urban Decay is quickly becoming my favourite premium make-up brand; it is cruelty free, mostly vegan and of great quality. I kinda wish it was our anniversary every month because I already have a huge UD wishlist...hope the nice lady is there to help me out next time.

These were my beauty presents and I love them! I can't wait for my next present: the theatre on Friday! And even though he told me not to I can't finish this post without a picture of us. To my honey, happy anniversary! ♥

Monday, May 25, 2015

Hi Beautifuls!I've always struggled with my weight and to top it off, I'm kinda lazy; there I admit it. I would much rather go shopping than go to the gym, watch a movie instead of taking a walk. Whenever I tried dieting, it never seemed to work. Sure I would lose some weight, but in the long run those extra pounds always found their way back to my stomach, thighs, face, etc etc. It didn't really occur to me how noticeable my weight loss was until a lot of friends started complimenting on how great I looked. Many asked what crazy diet I was on and I promise, none. Those never work anyway. Changing my eating habits was the key and I've never been more delighted!

My healthier diet included switching from white bread to brown bread, carbs for protein (of course I still eat rice, pasta, etc, but just in smaller portions and less regularly), fizzy drinks for fruit juices and water, and definitely more veggies and greens. I do still love the occasional burger, ice cream and fries, but I tend to keep those for the weekend only as a treat depending on how good I've been throughout the week. These are the results so far:

Before:

Ignore the photos quality; these were all taken on my Iphone.

After:

Now, I can't really tell you how many pounds, kilos or stones I've lost because...well, I don't know. The scale has never been very kind to me, so I stopped using one years ago. But what I do know is that I have gone from a top size 10 to size 8 and I no longer need to squeeze into my size 10 jeans (I actually need to wear belts now to keep them from falling down). Feeling happier and more comfortable in my clothes shows improvement and that is enough for me.

Being more active is still a challenge (didn't I tell you I was lazy?) but I can see from these photos how far I have come and now it's about keeping those pounds off. With determination, exercise and a healthy diet, a healthier lifestyle is something we can all achieve and that's what I'm after on this ongoing journey.

Friday, May 22, 2015

Having the day off today meant one thing, and one thing only...SHOPPING! Finally found the time go into every shop I wanted to and I, being the shopaholic and makeup-aholic that I am, obviously ended up picking up a few make-up items that I've been dying to try out. I don't know if anybody has noticed, but everywhere you look there is for sure a giant billboard featuring the new Rimmel London mascara. London is covered in propaganda for this product and it wasn't long until it caught my attention.

The reason why I mostly wanted to try this is because this mascara is enriched with vitamins (Pro Vitamin B5 and Vitamin E) and Cucumber extracts (and not because it is so pretty to look at...ok, maybe a little). It claims to make us look more awake, something I'm always after because I tend to look tired all the time! The hour-glass brush is unusual, it has wider ends and it is designed to wrap each and every lash with defined, clump-free volume for an eye awakening effect.

L-One coat R- Two coats (excuse my crazy looking eyebrow)

I wore this throughout the day and this is what I like about it:
✓ Very stylish packaging.
✓ Priced at only £7.99 (but currently £5.99 - introductory price).
✓ Lovely cucumber scent.
✓ Lashes feel soft and flexible (not crispy like with other mascaras).
✓ Long lasting.
✓ Lightweight consistency.

What I don't like...
✖ Not so great for volume.
✖ Brush design makes application tricky.
✖ Needs a couple of coatings and it can be tricky not to clump with the brush.
✖ Cooling sensation not really noticeable.

On the whole, I like this neat mascara a lot. The packaging is pretty and eye-catching and the formula has a really lovely fragrance. Application is easy-ish once you get the hang of it, but I don't like the brush shape. Having wider ends and the curve in the middle made it difficult for me to get to the roots and I ended up getting some of it on my eyelids. I personally like volume, and this needs many many coats to achieve the look I would usually go for so I will be using this as my "day time" mascara. For my more dramatic evening looks I will stick to my all time favourite Lash Sensational by Maybelline. Having said that, I did notice that it made my eyes look wider and my lashes longer so if you are looking for an affordable, natural look mascara, you can't go wrong with this one.

You can get this mascara at Boots and Superdrug alongside the rest of the "Wake Me Up" collection which includes Foundation and Concealer, both of which I have yet to try.

Tell me, have you guys tried this product/collection yet? Let me know what you think below.

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

As promised, here are my least favourite products of the year so far. I am a huge fan of drugstore make-up; who doesn't love paying less on quality products?! Unfortunately the products below were a huge disappointment so keep reading to find out why I steer clear of them.

L'Oréal Paris Color Riche Eye Primer Base | £5.99

What is the stuff made of? I personally found it super hard to blend on my eyelids. Plus it does not twist up, so even if I did like the consistency of this primer, I wouldn't have been able to use it and most of the product would have gone to waste. Bad design, bad consistency!

LA Colours Colour Craze Nail Polishes | £1

I picked these super pretty colours at Beauty Base for as little as £1 each thinking I hit jackpot big time, but boy was I wrong. Even though they seemed more watery than normal polishes, I told myself that they were perfectly fine and they would be used as top coats for a glittery look. I did my nails all nice and pretty and made the terrible mistake of adding these on top. This stuff took forever to dry, the pigmentation is just awful and the smell is a lot worse than usual polishes. I did try to wear them on their own, but that was also a waste of time. It chips within the same day of application hence not buying these polishes ever again.

Collection Sheer Loose Powder | £1.99

Ok, hear me out on this one. I know a lot of people love this powder, and to be honest the product itself is not half bad. It gives good sheer coverage and seems to keep your make-up in place for some time. But what is with the packaging? I kept shaking it to see if the powder would come through those teeny tiny holes but nothing. Had to cut up bigger holes using scissors and even that didn't work, so obviously when you take the middle part away it gets real messy and the result is powder all over you and on the floor. Let's be honest, any product that makes you go to this extent, does not deserve our money no matter how cheap it is. I found this to be badly designed and just way too messy, sorry.

Rimmel London Undercover Shadow Primer | £4.99

This product misses the whole point of what an eyeshadow primer is supposed to do. I gave it a fair trial and used it a couple of times but the results were still less than adequate. Within just a few hours my eyeshadow had creased and my eyeliner smudged off. This primer is most definitely not crease-proof or smudge-proof and I am really disappointed because I usually like all things Rimmel. Boooo!

NIVEA Daily Essentials Extra Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover | £3.59

Nivea, how could you ever disappoint me?! Unfortunately "gently removes mascara and make-up" is exactly what you get with this product. If you are like me and wear eyeliner, mascara and the sorts daily, at the end of the day we want something to get rid of all this nastiness. But, by using this remover I would wake up the next morning rocking the panda look because of all the left behind make-up residue. I have since bought Nivea Double Effect Eye Make-Up Remover which is more costly but 10 times better and my favourite make-up remover ever. I totally recommend that, but this "sensitive" one? Don't bother.

Sleek MakeUp Corrector And Concealer Palette | £7.99

Sleek palettes are awesome, except this one... I wanted to get a contour palette to practice before investing in something more expensive, but with this all you get are very greasy concealers that immediately settle into fine lines and barely provide any coverage. You try and make it better by adding some powder on top, but you are then left with a very cakey look. I like how the shades were appropriate for my skin tone (shade 2) but I certainly expected more and I am very disappointed I paid 8 bucks on such a small and low-quality product.

Rant over.

Have you guys tried any of these? Let me know about any other bad products below.

Monday, May 18, 2015

My first ever beauty box from Glossybox has finally arrived and here is what I received in this month's box!

Thank you Glossybox for the warm welcome and the super cute free shopper bag as an extra treat! I, of course, wanted to try out all products before telling you guys about them and here's my verdict!

Let's start with my favourite:

Essence Lash Princess Volume Mascara | £2.29

Even though this is the cheapest item in the box, it has for sure left a good impression on me. The packaging is beautiful and delicate. The consistency of this mascara is also really lovely and the wand reminds me of Maybelline Lash Sensational, which is my favourite mascara of all time, so this had big shoes to fill and it did so surprisingly well. With a few coats this mascara lengthens, curls and volumizes my lashes and is the one I've been wearing non-stop ever since.

MeMeMe Enchanted Eyes Dual Ended Eye Wand | £6.95

A lot of people weren't too keen on this product when they gave us a sneak peek last month, but I personally was super excited. I had never heard of this boutique brand before but the quality of the "wand" has caught my eye (literally). I have already worn both ends of this highly pigmented liner and having blue eyes myself, these beautiful blue shades certainly brighten up my look. This spring/summer I'm going for bolder colours and this is what perfect timing looks like!

From left to right:

Etre Belle Aloe Vera Ultra Moisturising Gel | £15.93

A refreshing moisturiser for instant rescue when my skin needs a little (read a LOT) TLC. I tested this out during the weekend after sitting in the sun all day Sunday, and it soothed my post-sun skin really well. I also applied this before my make-up routine and it provided me with that healthy glow we all want! Kind of expensive for such a small full-sized product but perfect for that summer holiday I have coming up.

SASS Intimate Perfect Skin Concentrate | £12

A bit of a weird one, but extremely useful if you think about it. My skin isn't very sensitive post shave or wax, but I like that this product reduces hair regrowth and this will come in handy this summer. I massaged this after shaving and whilst it does sooth the skin, I'm still waiting to see when a shave will be due next. Fingers crossed!

Zerreau Towel Off Shampoo Foam | £7.95

Again, not a crowd pleaser amongst the Glossybox subscribers, but I find this to be a good alternative for dry shampoos (not a fan of that stuff myself). You do need to dose this correctly as it can potentially leave your hair look greasier than before, but if done right, a really good product that leaves my hair felling clean, soft and fresh without the need of water.

All in all I'm really glad I signed up to Glossybox as it gives me the opportunity to try stuff I never would have otherwise. I was having doubts about this box after reading a few reviews online, but it has not disappointed me in the slightest. I love the packaging and the products range, and even though I intend to sign up to other beauty boxes to see what else is on the market, Glossybox is the one I will be keeping for a few months to see how it turns out, but I have high hopes already! Plus, we get Flash Tattoos next month just in time for festival season and am I the only one who thinks these are actually really cool?

Friday, May 15, 2015

It's a beautiful day outside and so today I want to show my favourite lipsticks for the upcoming summer (I feel like I've been saying upcoming for a long time now...when is summer finally gonna be here? ok, rant over). These are all stunning bright shades because the brighter, the better!

From left to right:

Maybelline Colour Sensational Lipstick: Power Peony 158

A light-medium pastel bubblegum pink with cool blue, but almost lavender undertones. Its build-able sheer coverage is so juicy and nourishing, and whilst the colour may be hard to pull off on some skin tones, I find it flawless for that sunny hot day.

Calvin Klein Lipstick: Mesmerize

Bright, bright, bright! This is by far the richest colour on my lips and it is also my favourite of the bunch. A bright hot pink, absolutely gorgeous and with such a lovely and moisturizing texture. I find this lipstick fairly long lasting and it was definitely worth the price I paid (longgggg time ago). This is the one I'm wearing on my blog profile picture and in the swatch it does look a tad darker than it actually is :)

Mary Kay True Dimensions Lipstick: Sassy Fuchsia

I've been a fan of Mary Kay stuff ever since I tried their amazing eye primer, so when I got this lipstick I knew it would be just as good quality. The colour is a beautiful vivid pink with purple undertones, and you only need a few swipes to get fabulous fuchsia lips. Again, the texture is heavenly and application is smooth. Long lasting and sheer finish also define this super pretty lip shade.

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine: 62 Monte Carlo

A strawberry red with really fine shimmer. I thought the shade would be more pigmented when I got it, but I've now grown to love it. It's classy and delicate, and ideal for those who normally flinch away from bold red lip colours but still want to experiment. As with all of these lipsticks, this feels incredibly light weight on my lips. It doesn't last for more than a few hours, but that doesn't bother me too much.

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick: Jilted

This isn't the full-sized lipstick, but I love it nonetheless. It is a blue-toned, fuchsia-purple shade, slightly darker than the Mary Kay one. I know what you are thinking, a cool undertone for summer? Yes! I wouldn't wear this during the day, but for an evening summer outing I think it works really well. I'm very fond of this one particularly because all Urban Decay products are cruelty-free and that wins me over!

Rimmel London Kate Matte Lipstick: Vibrant Coral 110

You can see how much I've used this and I am definitely in need of a new one! A vibrant coral shade, so SO hot and the ultimate shade for the summer. This orange based red shade suits my skin tone really well and it is so pigmented that you don't need much of it to get good coverage. Let's be honest, the whole Rimmel Kate range is great, and this is not any different!

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

One can never have too many palettes, right? That is what I kept telling myself when I picked up not 1, but all 3 Nude palettes by Collection at Boots. Every time I go into Boots, I swear I hear my bank account cry a little, but thankfully this was on a 3 for 2 offer, so why the heck not? This brand has been wowing me with their products lately and whilst I've loved their concealer, foundation and even gel liner, I decided to treat myself to these beautiful looking palettes to see if they were any good. I'm totally impressed, but keep reading to find out more!

Collection Eyes Uncovered Palette in Nude

This palette is perfect for creating a classic nude eye and it is by far my favourite out of the 3. Even though these shades aren't matte, the shimmer isn't as intense as with the other palettes. I personally tend to wear more matte eyeshadows during the day, but this palette contains the ultimate colours for an everyday look and I have been able to create subtle eye make-ups, ideal for my work environment. The White Chocolate shade flawlessly highlights the inner corners of your eyes and when blended below the brow bone, it gives you that great looking eye lift. Expresso on the other hand is so pigmented that I like using it instead of eyeliner during the day.

Collection Eyes Uncovered Palette in Nude Bronze

With these warmer shimmery bronzed shades, sculpted smokey eyes are just one step away. All of these allow you to create powerful gradient effects which are ideal for evening outings and can really glam up your look. Add some black eyeliner and traffic stopping red lips, and you are ready to party! Ember and Nutty are the prettiest shades in this palette in my opinion and you can wear these with almost everything!

Collection Eyes Uncovered Palette in Nude Grey

Cooler tones! I have yet to experiment with these shades, but I'm thinking: defined and sultry evening look. Even the names are more interesting with this one: "Under the Moon" and "Eclipse", love it! The black shade is very pretty and given that it is so pigmented (as are the others really), I could use it to create a sexy smokey cat eye look. I bet if I blended some of it on top of my eyeliner below my water line, this stuff would not budge all night long. I personally would pair these with a bright fuchsia lipstick because let's be honest, the bolder the better!

The verdict:

♥ Good range of colours, ranging from light to mid browns and darker shades.

All in all, I'm really glad I decided to take all 3 home. These are nice little palettes with the perfect mixes of nude tones and even though each shade has a hint of shimmer, they allow creation of understated looks suitable for all skin tones and are definitely a great addition to my make-up collection. Maybe Collection could come up with a similar all matte palette, who's with me?